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New User
Posts: 3
Location: Mount Sidney, VA | I've moved from a bumper pull to a gooseneck. I can't see the ball when I'm attempting to hook up my trailer. I tried one of those mirrors but the design has a flaw - no real way to tighten the screws to hold it in the best configuration. I sure am getting tired of hopping in and out of my truck. Any tips or "toys" to help w/ this operation? |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
   
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | I have an extended cab dually. I just raise up in the seat and look out the back glass. |
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Veteran
Posts: 188
Location: Ingalls, Ks | Black tape stripe down the center. Find an old magnetic CB antenna to put on the floor of your pickup, bend it to touch your trailer when your over the ball. |
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Member
Posts: 24
Location: blacksburg va | We have a short bed and I cant see the ball on mine either,what I have found that helps was a strip of duct tape running from the ball to the tailgate.doesent get the coupler right over ball but it its close and inline and usually only have to get out of cab once to check position.hope this helps. Jerry |
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Expert
Posts: 2958
Location: North Carolina | I use the ribs in the bed to line the coupler up to the ball. But if you can't see the truck bed ... two other tricks... The ole' plumber's helper works well and it's a dual use item. Place the plunger cup down to the rear of the ball. When the trailer coupler post hits the handle, you're at the right spot. If you don't want to climb into the truck bed for the plumber's helper trick... get a long bungie cord, stretch it between the bedrails directly over the ball. Then get a clothes pin and place it on the bungie cord directly over the ball. Aim the clothes pin to the trailer coupler post. You can leave the bungie cord & clothes pin on the truck as long as you don't have something filling the bed. |
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Expert
Posts: 1416
Location: sc | Practice. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560
Location: Mena, AR | I got a flat plastic fish eye at Pep Boys for about $10 over a year ago and it worked great till I got a new tool box, and couldn't see over it. It allowed me to see down into the bed of the truck. I now have a wireless back-up camera that I purchased on-line. Put a camera on the toolbox and another above my BP hitch. Bit more pricey than the fish eye, but works well. I still use the fish eye for backing in parking lots.-Betty |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Do what my better have does. She is 5'4" and has not had any problems to speak of yet and we have a 4 door dually, gets hooked up the first time everytime. She calls me! hee hee
Edited by hogtownboss 2009-05-26 11:12 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 197
Location: MT | No tape just put rock on the end of your tailgate to get in line..than when you get to goose neck over the ball look at where your tail gate is. Now you know where you have to be everytime without looking at your ball just your tail gate. My mom who is like 5'3" can do this every time on my crew cab short box on a 4 horse living quarters. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 714
Location: Minnesota | I had trouble seeing my ball in my short bed CC because of the rollup cover box and I'm 6'4". I laid a piece of lathe on the bed in direct line with the ball. I also ran a bungee cord across the box directly above the ball. When I nudged the bungee I knew that I was over the ball. My wife would clip a clothes pin on the bungee over the ball to help her get lined up. Now with the long box CC I don't have any problem seeing the ball. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: Georgia | I use a bungee cord hooked to the underside of the top of the truck bed with a cable tie (plastic ties) pointing up in the center over the ball.(Bungee stretched horizontally across the center of bed with cable tie centered on ball.) (Actually my truck now has eye hooks on the top bed and I hook the bungee cord to those.) Back the truck up until the bungee cord touches the coupler with the cable tie centered on the coupler. After a couple of times hooking up, you will know just how much tension you should leave in the bungee with the cable tie against the coupler. Works like a drearm. Wish I could take credit for thinking of it ..but I did not. Saw someone else's. I use a 6 inch cable tie but you could get the extra long ones for more height and make it eaiser to see if you have a tool box in your truck bed. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Kansas | I'm taller than you but still can't see the ball. I line up over the tailgate latch-there is a depression in the tailgate when down, nearly dead center and exactly in line with my ball. I have also put a piece of duct tape on the bedrail that is right behind my window for a secondary sight line. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 274
Location: Memphis, TN | Originally written by hosspuller on 2009-05-26 3:02 AM get a long bungie cord, stretch it between the bedrails directly over the ball. Then get a clothes pin and place it on the bungie cord directly over the ball. Aim the clothes pin to the trailer coupler post. You can leave the bungie cord & clothes pin on the truck as long as you don't have something filling the bed. Yep, thats what I've been doing for years....cheap n easy. |
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Regular
Posts: 80
Location: Tracy, CA | lesliemal, I tryied the bungie cord and the pin and it worked like a charm. No need to even have any help with the line up. If someone was smart they would do a patient on this easy system and make a bundle of money. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 235
Location: Bucksport, Maine | Ext cab, short bed, can't see the ball. I line the coupler up to the middle groove in the bed (or the bolts in the tailgate handle), then back up until the tailgate is 6" from the spare tire under the nose. I've been hitting it perfect since the second week I owned the trailer. So, my vote is PRACTICE. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350 | I also use bungie cords. I took two the same length and fasten them in the center. I just look in my rear view mirror, and line up the neck with the two hooks on the bungies. When it comes in contact with the coupler, 95% of the time I'm directly over the ball. Works like a charm, and keeps ypu from having to get in and out of the truck. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by chadsalt on 2009-05-26 7:21 PM
Practice. I thought that was how you got to Carnegie Hall... |
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Member
Posts: 27
Location: Kentucky |
Hey Lesliemal,
Tried the bungee trick today and worked like a charm.
Love this site,
Donna |
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Member
Posts: 36
Location: Wellington, Texas | When unhooking from the trailer, raise the coupler to where it is barely still on the ball. When you pull forward the pickup bed will lower slightly. Same thing when hooking up to the trailer. Slowly back up untill the bed of the pickup lowers slightly and then raises back up, coupler will be directly over the ball if lined up laterally. |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Originally written by BMC Bermuda grass on 2009-06-03 10:15 PM
When unhooking from the trailer, raise the coupler to where it is barely still on the ball. When you pull forward the pickup bed will lower slightly. Same thing when hooking up to the trailer. Slowly back up untill the bed of the pickup lowers slightly and then raises back up, coupler will be directly over the ball if lined up laterally. Careful doing this...mine gets into the tailgate if I do this. I have had trucks that I could do it, but my last two Chevys won't let me. |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
Location: MT | You better make sure the ground is good and level where you do that too or other wise your going to add a new style to your box/tailgate. |
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Member
Posts: 36
Location: Wellington, Texas | yes true, the ground needs to be level. Don't just back your ears and floor it until the pickup bed lowers. Pay attention |
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New User
Posts: 1
Location: Litchfield, ME | My mom came up with a great idea and it works awesome. She has a bungey cord going across the width of the truck bed directly over the ball hitch in the bed. The middle of the bungey cord has a upright zip tie pointing tip up to the sky. That way when backing up she can more easily see if she is aligned with the hitch ball. Good luck! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1880
Location: NY | I will try some of these thank you |
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Member
Posts: 13
Location: Ocala, Fl | |
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Member
Posts: 13
Location: Ocala, Fl | Go to an RV trailer store. They make a fiberglass pole about 2 feet Long wilth a magnet on one end. Put it on your ball in upright position. As you back looking only in your rear view mirror align the pole with your gooseneck. When the gooseneck tips over the pole, stop. You will be exactly over the ball. Just back slowly. Works every time for me. The poles come in a set of two for use with bumper pulls. Give one to a friend with a gooseneck! |
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Expert
Posts: 1989
Location: South Central OK | Second the above post. My father does this, my original thoughts were why would I want to get in the bed first to place the pole on the ball. My father has a turnover ball, so he's in there anyways. I have to flop open my permanently mounted ball box lid, so I'm already in the bed too. When you climb in the bed to latch your hitch and snap your chains and breakaway cable you can retrieve the pole. It also stores nicely behind the back seat. Best method I've seen/found if you need a visual guide. |
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Member
Posts: 14
Location: Somerset, Wisconsin | Same idea-I just use an extendable magnetic pickup tool. You can buy them at an Auto parts store for less than $5 and they fit in your pocket. Tie a piece of orange ribbon to make it easier to see. |
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Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
